FEATURED WEDNESDAY CONVENINGS

Beginning at 10:30 AM

Wednesday, October 7

In a networked world, grantmakers can achieve far greater impact by coordinating—and collaborating—with other funders. But with tightening travel budgets, it has grown harder for grantmakers to come together. In this spirit, GFE’s funder networks—and several of our partner organizations—have designed special issue-based conversations and programs. These offerings will allow you to dive deep with colleagues to discuss current trends and developments as well as the intersections of your work. Be sure to stay through Wednesday afternoon for these lively and interactive gatherings with colleagues from around the country.

21st Century Creativity: A Conversation between Arts and Education Funders

Counterbalancing the arts-free core curriculum movement is a growing effort to provide more classes that specifi cally nurture "right brain" talents. Long a rallying point for arts education advocates, this national conversation remains fragmented and contentious. Assuming there are strong links between right brain skills and success in the new economy, how should education philanthropy respond? Join us for a roundtable discussion and a group dialogue as we explore these issues and the strategies in the arts and education philanthropy worlds that may be helpful to ensure our children become tomorrow's innovation leaders.
Contact Arnold Aprill at aaprill@capeweb.org for more information.

Critical Topics in Out-of-School Time: An Opportunity to Dive Deep with Colleagues

Join your fellow OST funders in enriching, small and large working group conversations focusing on a series of critical topics in the field. Discussion topics will likely include: 1) finding opportunity in crisis: how grantmakers are securing unexpected results from strategies not tied to the amount of resources invested; 2) increasing access to highquality summer programs; 3) new strategies for framing "out-of-school time" to a variety of stakeholders; 4) fi nancing for sustainability; and 5) an update on OST investments under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
Contact Kathleen Traphagen at ostnetwork@edfunders.org for more information.

Education Organizing 201 - Education Organizing in Action: Building Political Will and Creating Change Now

Chicago is home to some of the nation’s best-established education organizing efforts, providing an ideal opportunity for funders to examine how modest investments in organizing can produce powerful leverage for sustainable change. Join us to see a local organizing effort in action. Learn from and engage with local organizers, leaders and funders in a provocative dialogue on how best to improve education outcomes for all students. The conversation will consider lessons from three local organizing efforts: Parents and Residents Invested in School and Education; Voices for Youth in Chicago Education; and TARGET Area Development and the Kenwood-Oakland Community Organization. Co-sponsored by Communities for Public Education Reform (CPER).
Contact Peg King at wgeo@edfunders.org for more information.

High Leverage Strategies to Address America's Dropout Crisis

Many refer to our national dropout rate as “America’s silent epidemic.” Join us as we engage in peer-to-peer learning that focuses on how to reduce the dropout rate while simultaneously leveraging systemic reform. Together we will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of our current strategies, highlight relevant best practices, and challenge ourselves to think in new and different ways refl ecting the changed times and important federal and state investments.
Contact Chris Sturgis at chris@metisnet.net for more information.

Increasing Student Achievement by Influencing Education Public Policy

With public budgets under extraordinary pressure and philanthropic resources more limited, education grantmakers must be strategic about how they seek to improve outcomes and opportunities. Determining how to infl uence local, state and federal education policies is essential. Dialogue with Jim Shelton, U.S. Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement at the U.S. Department of Education, about strategies for scaling innovation in American education. We'll also discuss efforts to map education investments in America, examine successes and challenges faced in the receipt and use of ARRA funds to date, and consider ways that funders can help ensure accountability for these investments.
Contact Jenna Davis at policy@edfunders.org for more information.